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Tuesday, July 19, 1988/The Battalion/Page 3
Presidents: New and Old
stresses research, recruitment in speech
editor’s note: The following is the
, text of the presidential acceptance
given by Dr. William Hodges
wden Mobley.
fl Jied,TfChairman Eller, Members of the
fteriaiBard of Regents, Chancellor Adkis-
o (jiisjjBj, it is with pleasure, pride, and
|Bh expectations that I respectfully
’ t » e P t y our invitation to become the
,S raet ®h president of Texas A&M Uni-
notiai-H-gity, Since its founding in 1876,
' wa/itcHs great University has been
itek if.bfessed with outstanding leadership
)/• our .B° n g its Regents, chancellors,
«sidents, various advisory boards,
nns, department heads and fac-
ourliiMy Over the past seven years, Dr.
Tniei Frank E. Vandiver has further em-
ke i)uf| bellished Texas A&M’s tradition of
tus. ] exrmplary leadership. The qualita-
nd nei anc ^ Hnantitative development of
.■ R institution during his presidency
1 ! has been truly remarkable. I look
,e we ward to nurturing the many
Bds that he has planted, and to
>e iveoUnting new seeds in the richer in-
^■ectual and cultural environment
Hit he has helped create. President
)e we( Vandiver, it is a distinct honor to be
big fl y
our successor.
veryoiHAs Texas A&M University pre-
-lik ( pa ies f° r the challenges and oppor-
Jneser Hiities of the 21st century, our ac-
■nplishments will be constrained
■“Hy by the resources and creative
<iise. K environment that we provide for our
talented faculty, students, and staff.
With the concurrence of the Board
of Regents, a priority goal for this
administration will be to accelerate
H development of the external re-
Hirces needed to supplement the
-O Hreasingly tight resources. En-
f | Hiced external resources are essen-
1 tf| if we are to take full advantage of
the intellectual and creative human
capital represented in the faculty,
students and staff of this University.
Only with enhanced resource devel
opment can we further push back
the frontiers of knowledge and in-
He this knowledge into the eco-
ident i
attalion.
r
nomic, technological, cultural and
social fabric or our state and nation.
Over the coming weeks and
months, I am looking forward to
working with the faculty, students,
staff, various constituencies, the
chancellor, and ultimately the Board
of Regents, in further refining the
University’s goals and plans for the
coming decade. Although there will
be other forums later for more ex
pansive discussions, permit me to
share ten basic dimensions of my vi
sion for the University and the presi
dency.
First, the global village has ar
rived. We have an obligation as an
institution to help insure that the
students and public whom we serve
are informed citizens, problem solv
ers and decision makers in an in
creasingly interwoven global econ
omy and society. The global thrust
of our academic, research and serv
ice programs must be accelerated.
Second, as we move further into a
knowledge-based society, Texas
A&M has an opportunity to play an
increasingly important role in devel
oping the knowledge base and tech
nologies that are essential to the con-
tinued economic and social
development of our state and na
tion. Texas A&M University has
moved into the nation’s top ten re
search universities. We should con
tinue to enhance our research and
graduate program emphasis in strat
egic areas and to sharpen our tech
nology transfer capabilities.
Third, as we continue to develop
our research programs, we cannot,
we must not, and we will not forget
that teaching and knowledge disse
mination are co-equal to the knowl
edge generation and research mis
sion of this institution. It is a false
dichotomy to pit teaching against re
search. Both are essential. Both must
be, and will be emphasized, re
warded and recognized.
Fourth, the traditions, the sup-
“It is a false dichotomy to pit teaching against research.
Both are essential. Both must be, and will be em
phasized, rewarded and recognized. ”
— Willim H. Mobley, new A&M president
portive student environment, and
the student leadership development
opportunities afforded by the Corps
of Cadets, the Memorial Student
Center, student government and lit
erally hundreds of student organiza
tions, are a fundamental component
of the rich fabric of this University.
The development of the remarkable
number of graduates who go on to
be leaders in their chosen fields, and
the incredible institutional loyalty
and generosity of our former stu
dents, are attributable in no small
way to the supportive student envi
ronment and co-curricular pro
grams that characterize this Univer
sity. We must, and will, jealously
guard and nurture this environment
in the face of the size, diversity and
complexity of our University.
Fifth, the demographics of Texas
and the nation are changing rapidly.
We are becoming an older, more ur
ban and more ethnically diverse
population. Texas A&M University
must continue to expand its em
phasis on the recruitment and reten
tion of minorities if we are able to be
responsive to the economic, social
and leadership needs of Texas and
the nation. I plan to play a personal
role in this effort. We also must ex
plore innovative mechanism for de
livering our knowledge and services
to the older and urban portions of
our population.
Sixth, there are a number of foun
dation elements that support all that
we do, and can do, as a great Univer
sity. In this category, I place our li
braries, computing, telecommunica
tions, state of the-art lab equipment,
and physical space. These founda
tion elements are very expensive and
require continuous initiatives, we will
not lose sight of the need to address
the resource requirements of these
foundation elements.
Seventh, we are intrusted with a
very large and growing financial and
physical base supported by state,
federal, auxiliary enterprise, gift
and grant dollars. We will continue
to be committed to the highest stan
dards of prudence, diligence and in
tegrity in the stewardship of the re
sources available to us.
Eighth, when all is said and done,
it is our faculty who provide the
quality teaching, the student mentor
ing, the research and knowledge dis
semination that have made this Uni
versity great. We must continue to
recruit, develop and reward excel
lence as we continue to develop an
already superb faculty.
Ninth, Texas A&M University has
a great story to tell about its stu
dents, former students, faculty, re
search and service programs and its
remarkable development. We can,
and will, be doing an even better job
of communicating this story, in Aus
tin, in Washington, in New York,
and throughout the nation and
world. I consider it to be one of the
more pleasant opportunities of the
presidency, to be able to play a lead
ership in role in more broadly com
municating the Texas A&M Univer
sity story.
Tenth and finally, Texas A&M
University is a major component of
the Texas A&M University System. I
have had the distinct honor and
pleasure for the past two years of
working for System Chancellor Dr.
Perry L. Adkisson, a distinguished
scientist, an effective administrator,
one of the hardest working, honest
and dedicated leaders I know. Dep
uty Chancellors Jimmy Bond and Ed
Davis are truly talented, effective
and committed members of the
Chancellor’s leadership team. Chan
cellor Adkisson, you and your Sys
tem leadership team have made my
commitment of cooperation and
support in continuing to develop the
strongest possible working
relationship between the System and
this University.
Much more could be said about
the future of Texas A&M, but this is
not the time or place. Let me close
on a personal note. My family and I
have been blessed immensely by
Texas A&M University. In the eight
years that I have been at Texas
A&M, I have had remarkable oppor
tunities for professional and per
sonal development. My wife of 24
years, Jayne, and my older daugh
ter, Michele, earned degrees from
this University and my younger
daughter, Jennifer, currently is pur
suing an Aggie degree. We are
proud to be a part of the Aggie fam
ily that has so enriched oyir family.
Permit me to conclude by citing
one of my favorite passages from Al
fred North Whitehead:
“Fools act on imagination
without knowledge, Pedants
act on knowledge without
imagination. The role of a
great university is to effecti
vely weld imagination and
knowledge.”
Mr. Chairman, members of the
Board of Regents, Chancellor Adkis
son, I look forward to working with
you and our various constituencies,
to continue to develop Texas A&M
University’s role as a master welder
of imagination and knowledge.
Thank you.
Leaders from city, campus
praise choice of Mobley
“He will probably continue the in
corporation between the city and the
University and will probably be good
to work with. I am pleased with the
selection. He is a person who will
ingly listens to what you have to say.”
— Larry Ringer, mayor of College
Station and head of the statistics de
partment at A&M.
“I have worked with him (Mobley)
in the community and think he is an
excellent choice and a great leader.
He is an outstanding choice for the
position. I know him and have felt
through the entire process that he
William H. Mobley
vears ft
1 more
e man' Ip Photo by Jay Janner
d crlsl \MLeft to right) Frank Vandiver, William Mobley, David Eller and
i migtU Perry Adkisson take questions at a press conference Monday,
i in a njp
reader' ||
BORN: Nov. 15, 1941 in Akron, Ohio.
EDUCATION: 1959-1963 — Denison University in
Granville, Ohio. Bachelor’s degrees in psychology and
economics.
1967-197! — University of Maryland in College
Park, Md. Ph.B. in industrial organizational psychol
ogy-
FAMILY: Married in June 1964 to Jayne Patron
Mobley. Two daughters— Michele and Jennifer.
UNIVERSITY WORK EXPERIENCE:
University of South Carolina
1973-1976 — Assistant professor in the College of
Business Administration.
1976-1979 — Associate professor in the CB A.
1979- 1980— Professor in the CB A.
1975-1980 -— Director for Center of Management
and Organizational Research.
Texas A&M University
1980- 1981 — Professor and head. Department of
Management.
1981- 1983 — Associate dean, CBA.
1983-1986 - Dean, CBA. Founding director of the
Center for International Business Studies.
1986- 1987 — Deputy chancellor, academic and re
source development.
1987- present — Executive deputy chancellor for the
Texas A&M University System.
SELECTED A&M COMMITTEES:
Blocker Chair Search Committee, 1982 (chair).
Accounting Department Head Search Committee,
1982 (chair).
Industrial Research Park Development Committee.
1983-1984.
Liberal Arts Dean Search Committee, 1984 (chair).
System Long Range Planning Committee, 1986
(chair).
Deputy chancellor for Agricultural Search Commit
tee, 1987.
SELECTED BOARDS:
1986-present — Board of Directors, Center for In
ternational Business Studies.
1984-1985— Board of Directors, Bryan-College Sta
tion Chamber of Commerce.
SELECTED OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIV
ITIES:
Chairman, Southeastern Industrial Organizational
Psychologists Association, 1976-1977.
Study Abroad Coordinator, CBA, Summer 1987, En
gland and Scotland.
American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Busi
ness, Accreditation Research Committee, 1984-1986;
Chairman, 1985-1986; Accreditation Management
Committee, 1985-1986.
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Advi
sory Committee on International Issues, chair. 1988-
present.
would do an excellent job if he were
selected.”
— Bryan Mayor Marvin Tate.
“I knew from talk around campus
that the Regents wanted someone lo
cal. I worked with him a few times
on the Chancellor-Student Advisory
Board and really enjoyed it.”
— Mason Hogan, student body
president for 1987-88 and a mem
ber of the Board of Regents Search
Advisory Committee.
“I’ve known him for a long time.
He’s a man of high principles and
dedication. I think he will be one of
the great presidents of Texas A&M.
It’s good news that he’s been selec
ted.”
— Edwin H. Cooper, director of
school relations for A&M.
“It’s a fantastic choice. I think he’s
going to be a great president. I don’t
think we could have found a presi
dent who could fit the bill better.”
— Gen. Wesley Peel, vice chan
cellor for facilities planning and
construction. ^
“He’s an outstanding person. I’m
very pleased because from what I
know about him he’s a super choice.”
— Maj. Gen. Thomas Darling, Com
mandant of Cadets.
Correction
In Friday’s Battalion a story er
roneously said the nuclear science
center was part of the Texas En
gineering Extension Service. The
correct entity is the Texas Engi
neering Experiment Station.
The center received a $5,000
fine from the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission for violations and
A&M officials said they would
take any necessary steps to com
ply with commission guidelines.
The Battalion regrets the er-
ts, thest|
rators,
(egents 5
s a&mi
solve tlKj
Vandiver steps down, leaves trail of accomplishments
By Janet Goode
Senior Staff Writer
osoptyVEXAS A&M PRESIDENT
pink E. Vandiver, the man who
llught to A&M the concepts of
fflfrld” and “space-grant” univer-
an< ^ saw enc l owrnent figures
Jjs the billion-dollar mark, is step-
~~ f ,Jg down Aug. 1 to head the
y#ff her Institute for Defense Stud-
William Mobley, executive
^^Buty chancellor of the Texas
University System, was named
'abdiver’s successor Monday at the
Hrd of Regents meeting.
Hhrough Vandiver’s seven-year
idininistration, A&M has surpassed
nijestones placing it in the ranks of
he nation’s top 10 universities. And
he University’s 2,500-student in-
fease this past fall was the largest in
he nation.
As enrollment figures near
‘0|000, Vandiver said Monday, the
My immediate problem he sees fac-
ng the new president is a lack of re-
j.l»fH rces to com t> a t enrollment in-
think (Mobley) is coming in at a
uliarly interesting time in the his-
ory of A&M,” Vandiver said. “We
Hat a crossroad where (A&M) has
[Hands of opportunities, somewhat
tampered by problems, not the least
/^fwhich is money.
•t-i x'But I think with (Mobley’s) con
tacts in industry and business, he will
■ ’iextremely effective in raising out-
ide funds. That will be one of his
nain functions. Aside from that I
n’t really see problems that ought
give him cold chills at night.”
Wandiver, 62, said he regrets leav-
ionly because of things undone
ind his love for A&M.
“I would like to have done some
things that I didn’t get done, but I’m
so tickled at what I’m going to be
doing,” he said. “I think seven years
as a president is a long time for a
University.
“It’s time to pass it on to people
with vision, new enthusiasm and op
portunities. I regret leaving because
I love the job. I love the school. But I
don’t regret the fact that I have such
an able man taking over for me.”
AS A YOUNG BOY, Vandiver of
ten visited his next-door neighbor —
Albert Einstein — for help with his
math homework. He says he didn’t
learn much, though, because “math
wasn’t really my thing.”
Vandiver never officially grad
uated from college or even high
school. He stopped attending regu
lar classes after the seventh grade
when his mother moved to Florida
to care for her sick father.
He studied with private tutors and
then, after fulfilling the require
ments in an undergraduate exami
nation at UT-Austin, Vandiver went
directly to graduate school. He pub
lished his first scholarly paper at 16
and completed work on his master’s
degree in nine months. Two years
later he earned a doctorate in history
at Tulane University.
Starting in 1975, he became pro
vost and then vice president of Rice
University. He resigned in 1979 to
accept the presidency of North
Texas State University.
VANDIVER ACCEPTED the
presidency of Texas A&M Univer
sity two years later, September 1981,
calling himself a “galvanized Aggie.”
He was noisily greeted by some
3,000 Corp of Cadets members who
marched on the president’s house.
Vandiver and his family reportedly
Frank E. Vandiver
faced the crowd smiling, and joined
in the yelling.
Vandiver was quoted by The Bat
talion as saying that some people felt
he was the “crazy new guy with
global concerns.”
Shortly after his powerful begin
ning, Vandiver’s administration al
most came to an abrupt end when he
threatened to resign because of
Jackie Sherill’s emergence as the
new athletic director and head coach
for Texas A&M.
As reported in the Jan. 2, 1982 is
sue of The Battalion, Vandiver had
given the previous coach, Tom Wil
son, a vote of confidence. Despite
this, the University regents, who re
portedly instigated the hiring, disre
garded Vandiver’s recommenda
tion. The incident was said to have
damaged the president’s credibility.
Soon after, Vandiver re-emerged
with a strong-arm conviction to do
something positive for the Univer
sity.
HE BEGAN HIS ADMINISTRA
TION with a proclaimation of mak
ing A&M a “world university.” He
has traveled around the world many
times for the University in hopes of
bringing it this status.
In a July 6, 1982 article by Van
diver, he outlined the concept under
which about 25 universities would
link themselves together, conquering
world problems such as famine and
pestilence.
He said, “Governments cannot, or
will not, solve the world’s really pro
found problems. On a global scale,
about all governments can do is
wage war, or under the best of cir
cumstances, administer a Band-Aid
approach to peace.”
Since then, Vandiver’s philosophy
that scholarly and technical ties are
stronger than political ones have
been met through international pro
grams.
• 1985 marked the first step in
establishing A&M as “world-class” by
having at least 26 nations, including
18 third world countries, rep
resented at a food and water confer
ence.
• In 1986, a total of 35 foreign in
stitutions joined into an agreement
with A&M to pave the way for stu
dent and professional exchanges,
collaboration on research. This was
one of 13 agreements signed by
A&M with other countries.
• In 1987, agreements were
signed with Czechoslavakian univer
sities — the first documents that the
socialist government of the Czechs
had signed with and American Uni
versity.
• In May of this year, an
agreement was signed by Vandiver
and Fudan University in Shanghai,
China.
• Today, Texas A&M has en
tered into formal agreements with
44 institutions around the globe to
facilitate international research and
cooperation.
ABOUT RELINQUISHING his
position, Vandiver was quoted by the
Office of Public Information earlier
this year as saying, “. . . there can be
no question that Texas A&M is mak
ing its presence known in a highly
positive and productive manner on a
global basis . . .”
At the press conference following
the Board of Regents meeting, Mob
ley said Vandiver had “planted
many seeds” that he looked forward
to continuing to nurture.
One seed — a dream not realized
by Vandiver — is his idea of A&M as
a “space-grant” university.
Space-grant legislation, intro
duced into congress by Texas Sen
ator Lloyd Bentsen and passed by in
November 1987, is awaiting NASA
implementation.
“My dream, of course, is for
Texas A&M to be the first space-
grant university,” Vandiver was re
ported as saying in the Oct. 22, 1987
issue of The Battalion. “It can make
a significant national contribution to
the space effort, just as it has done
by being one of the nation’s fore
most land-grant institutions and
among the first four universities to
gain sea-grant approval.”
Although the space-grant pro
gram remains an ideal of the future,
the president’s dreams have been
well-exceeded in the area of mi
nority recruitment among faculty
and students.
WITH THE LARGEST freshman
class last fall, there was also a 20 per
cent increase in minority students —
up 18 percent over the previous en
rollment period.Enrollment stood at
39,137 last fall and is predicted to
exceed 42,000 by 1990.
A&M also leads state instutions in
minority retention and has tripled its
enrollment of blacks and Hispanics
since 1979.
Vandiver has attributed some in
creases in enrollment to “a signal be
ing sent out to high school students
that Texas A&M is the ’in’ place to
be.”
He also has said that cooperation
between A&M and the University of
Texas in joint sponsorship of mi
nority recruitment outreach stations
in major urban areas has led to the
increase in minority students.
IN THE AREA OF the faculty,
Vandiver is credited with raising the
quality of its members.
Eighty percent of A&M’s faculty
holds doctoral degrees. The faculty
also has attracted its first Nobel Lau-
retes — Dr. Norman Borlaug, distin
guished professor of international
agriculture, and Sir Derek Barton,
distinguished professor of chemis
try. The faculty also inlcudes
Charles Gardone — a pulitzer prize
winning playwright.
In accordance to excellence in the
faculty, Vandiver also is credited
with founding the A&M Faculty
Senate in 1982.
Vandiver, a military historian and
author of numerous books, says he is
now looking forward to the opportu
nity to return to his “scholarly pur
suits” in “launching and leading” the
defense think-tank. He says he
hopes to have a significant impact in
the future on the U.S. defense situa
tion and hopes that one day the new
Mosher Institute for Defense Stud
ies will rival the prestigious Brook
ings Institution in Washington, D.C.